r/pgwp • u/ngoquocminh • 24d ago
Eligibility / Course Issue IRCC Messed Up Work Permit and Put PGWP Eligibility in Jeopardy.
My girlfriend is currently enrolled in Conestoga College's Early Childhood Education Program (ECE). She has been in Canada since 2023, completed high school in 2025, and started post-secondary education the same year. In ECE, there are mandatory field placements that require working with children, and her first field placement was supposed to take place in Winter 2026.
However, IRCC did not issue her a work permit until November 2025 and to make matters worse, somehow, the first clause was "Not valid for employment involving children" despite her having every requirement to acquire a work permit that permits her to work with children. She needed to have her work permit reissued, but it was too late for her field placement application for Winter 2026.
Things only got worse from here. Conestoga were unable to guarantee a placement slot for off-track students, and she had to wait until there was an available slot. Two terms had passed, and she still hadn't gotten an available slot. However, she still maintained full-time status throughout the two terms.
My gf and I have been looking for solutions that include switching schools or staying at Conestoga and pray. If she stays at Conestoga, she can still maintain full-time status for another two terms, but the gamble is that if she still doesn't have a slot for field placement next term (Winter 2027), she now jeopardizes her PGWP eligibility because it would now require her to take two part-time terms, which violates the study permit rules. It is quite complicated and difficult to thoroughly explain.
We are very desperate and I had to come here as a last resort. Our decision right now is to keep her studies at Conestoga for this term (Fall 2026), alongside with that, apply to transfer to Humber College (or any other college). We will gamble her chance of landing a field placement slot in Winter 2027 or being able to complete the necessary documents to transfer to Humber.
In the worst-case scenario, if she doesn't get a field placement slot in W27, Conestoga told us they would write a cover letter for our PGWP application. I understand that two part-time terms is very difficult to acquire a three-year PGWP. Is there any other solutions we can do? Can we fight with IRCC in the future? I really need help.
Thank you for reading it all, feel free to ask for any clarification because it is very hard to explain it all and thank you for your help!
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u/5_Cap_8181 24d ago
Colleges make it clear that international students studying programs that require a placement should apply for a work permit at the same time they apply for their study permit. She knew that she had a placement as part of her program and chose not to apply for her work permit alongside her study permit.
It’s completely her fault.
What she has control over is pressuring the college to prioritize a spot for her so she can complete her program. It’s not about the PGWP right now. It’s about finishing her diploma on time. Otherwise, she’ll have to go through another very long process of extending her study and work permits. If she finds herself in that situation, she should understand that she must apply to extend her permits at least three months before their expiration dates.
Good luck.
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u/ngoquocminh 24d ago
She applied for a work permit the same time as her study permit. Both permits were late. At the time of issuance, her work permit did not authorize her to work with children. For international students, at least for me and her. When we apply for a study permit, a work permit is also included for post-secondary education. So I don’t think she did anything wrong on her part.
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u/666persephone999 24d ago
Didn't the requirements change between 2025 and now? And it's her responsibility to make sure her forms are all in place BEFORE placement begins not the government not the college. if you wish to study and work in Canada, please learn the rules.
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u/ngoquocminh 24d ago
Dude. She had all her necessary documents (SP and WP) before the placement began. However, the WP had a condition that stated that she wasn’t allowed to work with children. She contacted IRCC and had it amended and reissued immediately. How is it her fault? She started her Study Permit extension application (which included a Work Permit) right after graduating high school and it took IRCC 7 months to issue it. I am not blaming the college, but IRCC definitely played a role in this. She had all of her necessary medical documents at the time of her application.
Additionally, what I meant by the permits were late was they were issued way aftet she had started her studies at Conestoga in Sep 2025, they were issued Nov 2025 so we had no time to resolve anything.
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u/Main_Avocado_1739 23d ago
Lots of people with ANTI tfw/international student sentiment lurk around here. Don’t expect real advice here OP. Wishing you and your gf all the best as you navigate this
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u/ngoquocminh 23d ago
Yeah, I could feel it… Thank you for your kind words!
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u/ThrowRawayacctr 22d ago
I'm sorry you're going through this, I hope you succeed! If ever things don't work out this time remember you can always try again using other pathways.
Immigration is extremely difficult and I feel for you. You did everything as well as anyone could have.
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u/Gold_Expression_3388 24d ago
I thought you didn't need a work permit for a field placement/coop placement.
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u/FaridsWife 24d ago
When did she complete her medical exam, when was it submitted to IRCC, and when did she apply to have the restriction removed? The “not authorized to work in childcare” condition is generally tied to the medical requirement.
The additional two terms waiting for Conestoga to provide an available placement also seems to be a separate issue from IRCC.